Chapter 59
FIFTY-NINE
KASHTON
My phone vibrates and I pull it out of my pocket, glancing at it.
SINNY: All ready.
ME: Thanks. Be there soon.
I stand on the balcony of the bedroom, looking over the calm ocean with a glass of scotch while she gets dressed, our conversation from an hour ago heavy on my mind.
“I saw you that night.”
She was here. Right in front of me and I missed her. Too busy hanging on another woman when the one of my dreams was in reach. How many times was she within arm’s length and I didn’t see her?
There were times I thought I imagined her that night on the Isabella.
That maybe I was fucked up from the adrenaline, alcohol, and the gum for my motion sickness.
I told myself she didn’t exist. That she was like a fever dream.
A whirlwind of chaotic behavior that barreled into my life and then just… poof. Disappeared.
But I knew she was real. I can say it a million times, but she’ll know how much she means to me. I was telling her the truth when I said I’d give up anyone and anything for her. I’ll prove it to her.
“I’m useless…”
Our fathers made her feel that way. Evan didn’t help, but I feel like the damage was already done by the time she was delivered to Dollhouse.
It was just a punishment. Her father sent her there because he didn’t know what else to do with her after she almost killed herself.
She was no longer useful because she couldn’t have their children, and he didn’t want to deal with the trauma he created.
My cell vibrates in my pocket again, and I pull it out to see it’s a group text, this time from Bill to my brothers.
Package delivered.
Sighing, I place the phone back in my pocket. Gavin managed to get the girl to Carnage. At least something is going right.
The sound of the door to the bathroom opening and closing has me smiling. I take another sip of my drink and wait for her to tell me she’s ready.
“Kash?” comes her soft voice. She’s going to be timid after our fight. I know her mind is reeling over what I said.
“I’m your purpose.” Eve wants and tries to be independent, and I support that, but at the end of the day, she needs someone to control her. I will be that man.
“Out on the balcony,” I tell her before tipping back the glass to finish off the scotch. Then I set it on the railing and turn around.
Eve stands at the open sliding glass door with her hands behind her back, wearing her wedding dress.
I take in the silky black material. It accentuates her narrow waist and flares at her hips, then falls to the floor with a short train.
It has a slit up her right thigh, showing off the flawless skin that I’ve had my hands on.
The sleeves fall off her shoulders, and it dips low in the front.
But not in a revealing way. Just enough to make me want more.
Her hair is up and off her face, showcasing a set of diamond studs in her ears.
This woman is going to be my Lady, and I’m going to treat her as such. An angel in everyone’s eyes and my dirty little whore in our room.
She needs the balance.
Licking her lips, her gaze drops to my shoes, and I walk to her. Without saying a word, I cup her face, forcing her to meet my stare, and lower my lips to hers.
Her hands go to my hips, and she pulls me into her when I open my mouth and deepen the kiss.
I’ve always hated the idea of weddings. I feel like they’re not needed.
But she deserves more. She napped on the short plane ride here, and I spent the entire time planning something I hope she loves.
Between Hooke and Sin, they’ve come through for me.
I couldn’t have done all this on my own with such short notice.
Pulling away, her lashes flutter open, and she looks at me with apprehension in her eyes. “You look beautiful, angel.”
She blushes and I love it.
“We better get going.” Taking her hand, I usher her back through the room and down the stairs to the front of the house.
Hooke bought this house a couple of years ago, and I don’t think he’s stayed one night here.
Stepping out onto the front porch, she comes to a stop when she sees a limo sitting in the circle drive. “Kash?”
“Come on.” I tug on her hand, and she rolls her eyes, giggling.
She crawls into the limo, and I get in behind her. Sitting down, I close the door and reach into the pocket of my jacket and remove the soft fabric. “I need you to wear this.”
Her eyes drop to the material, and she swallows as her eyes meet mine. Nodding, she licks her red-painted lips. “Okay.”
I smile at her. No apprehension. No questions. She’s letting me have full control of her and the situation. I’m not going to let her down.
“Face the door,” I tell her.
She turns the best she can, giving me her back, and I place the silk material around her head and tie it gently so it doesn’t mess up her hair.
“You may sit back.”
She sits ramrod straight, hands in her lap and her lips parted while her heavy breathing fills the limo. “Kash?”
“I’m right here, angel.” I take her hand in mine and signal the driver to get going.
EVERETT
The car comes to a stop, and Kashton helps me out of it since I can’t see. I strain my ears to try and get a clue as to where we are, but my pulse is racing, and my heart is pounding. I can’t hear anything over the blood rushing in my ears. I don’t know why I’m so nervous.
“I’m going to carry you,” he informs me.
I laugh. “Aren’t you supposed to do that over the threshold?”
“I’m going to do it then too.” He sweeps me up off my heels and I yelp, wrapping my arms around his neck.
I inhale his scent, and my pussy clenches. My fingers slide into his hair, scratching my nails against his scalp.
“Eve,” he warns.
“Hmm?” I hum before my lips touch his neck.
“If you keep doing that, we’ll have to push back the wedding a few hours.”
“I’m okay with that.”
“I’m not.” His chest rumbles.
I huff and relax in his arms. He’s planned something for me, and I don’t want to ruin it for him.
We slow and he sets me down on my heels, steadying me before he removes the blindfold. “You may look now, angel.”
Doing as I’m told, I gasp at what I see.
Nothing but blue ocean as far as I can see in front of us.
“What?” I turn to look behind me, and I see the private marina where the car dropped us off.
We’re standing on the stern of a yacht. It looks like a dark cloud with its matte black and silver trimmings.
I wrap my hands around the railing and look down at the water. Closing my eyes, I listen to the waves and take in a deep smell of the ocean. It’s the calmest I’ve ever felt.
Opening my eyes, I glance at Kashton to see he’s watching me. “What?” I ask, unable to wipe the smile off my face. I must look like an idiot right now.
He takes my hands. “You said the first time you ever felt free was that night on the Isabella.” Giving me a soft smile, he adds, “I wanted to give you a new memory on the ocean. This day is the first of the rest of our lives. The life you deserve.”
It’s hard to swallow past the knot in my throat.
I’ve never had a man care about how I feel, much less listen to what I have to say.
“It’s gorgeous.” I cup his face and lean into him.
“Thank you.” I press my lips to his, and he gently kisses me before pulling away. I groan, wanting more, and he chuckles.
“Come on.”
I let him escort me off the deck and down a set of stairs and through a door. It’s the owner’s suite, with a dark cherry wood platform sitting in the center. A bed rests on top of it, wrapped in black silk sheets.
The far wall is covered in thick matching drapes from floor to ceiling.
Silver ropelike cords hang down. I walk toward them and pull them open to get an ocean view.
“It’s beautiful.” It’s like a dream. One that I’ve had before, though I know this one will end much differently.
I always wondered what my life would have been like if Kashton could have helped me that night on the Isabella. Now I’ll get to know.
Kashton comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, gently kissing my cheek. “Yes, you are.” He makes me blush.
Turning in his arms, he pulls away, and I look around once more, taking in the room.
Glancing to my right, I see a sitting area.
It has two couches facing a coffee table and two lounge chairs as well.
More windows showcasing the blue water. It’s scary how calm it looks but how deadly I know it can be.
That’s what Kashton reminds me of. He can be so gentle with me at times, but I know what my Spade is capable of.
There’s a knock on the door before it opens and Sin slips inside. He gives Kashton a nod, who turns to me. “I have to do a few things. Stay here with Sin.”
“Leaving me with a babysitter?” I arch a brow.
Kashton chuckles and kisses my cheek before whispering, “I’m not letting you run away this time.” I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips when he turns to Sin and orders, “Keep her in here.”
“Yes, sir.” Sin nods as Kash sneaks out.
I stand awkwardly with my arms crossed over my chest. I’ve never been around Sin by myself before. Is it weird to see him as my adopted stepbrother? Not really sure what I’d call him since Bill isn’t my biological dad. And he didn’t adopt me.
“How is Ellington?” I decide to ask. Might as well make small talk while I’m here with him.
“Perfect,” he answers, smiling.
“And the babies?”
“Also perfect.”
A silence follows. This is the time that a father would show pictures of his children. Something tells me he doesn’t want to because he knows I can’t have kids. Or maybe that’s just my insecurities talking. “Do you have any photos?”